Australia v New Zealand - Aaron Finch’s horror run of form has become an unwanted talking point ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup on home soil.

 Aaron Finch’s horror run of form has become an unwanted talking point ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup on home soil. 

The Australian white-ball captain’s horror run of form has become an unwanted talking point ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup, and another cheap dismissal against Zimbabwe in Townsville hasn’t helped silence his critics.

Finch was removed by left-armed seamer Richard Ngarava for a third-consecutive match on Saturday morning, edging a length delivery to second slip and making his way back to the sheds for 5.

It was almost identical to his dismissal in the previous ODI, tentatively prodding outside the off stump with unbalanced footwork.

Ngarava now boasts figures of 3/6 from 22 balls when bowling to the Australian skipper in this bilateral one-day series.

Finch, who is nearing his 36th birthday, has averaged 14.90 in ODI cricket since the start of 2021, passing 45 just one in his last 11 knocks.

It was hoped the Zimbabwe series would help Finch rediscover some form before a busy home summer of cricket, but the Victorian has accumulated just 21 runs in three knocks against the minnows.

On Friday morning, Finch was named in Australia’s 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup, and the Victorian will be crucial to the team’s success in the tournament, but pundits are understandably questioning whether he should lead the side at next year’s 50-over World Cup in India.

“There’s a couple of technical issues with his feet,” former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on Fox Cricket.

“He hasn’t got a solid base, and his bat’s coming through from third slip and not coming through straight.

“He’s got no base to use his power game.”

Lowest ODI batting average for openers in 2022

14.90 – Aaron Finch (AUS)

17.22 – Muhammad Waseem (UAE)

18.53 – Kushal Bhurtel (NEP)

18.81 – Matthew Cross (SCO)

26.33 – Max O‘Dowd (NED)

*Minimum 10 innings

Finch, Australia’s 12th-highest run-scorer in ODI history, has cracked 19 centuries since making his international debut in 2011, combining with David Warner for more than 10,000 runs at the top of the order over the past decade.

But his lack of runs since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic are undeniably cause for concern with two major tournaments on the horizon.

Speaking to reporters in Townsville on Thursday, Finch conceded his “heavy” footwork was hindering his batting.

“When I get a bit heavy there it starts to affect the rest of my game,” he explained.

“I feel as though that‘s coming along really well. The rewards will be there very soon, just hasn’t happened just yet.

“I know that I‘ve got the full support of the players and the coaching and selection staff so I’m working hard on my game. It just hasn’t quite flowed yet.

“It just comes down to giving yourself a bit of time and hopefully getting a big one shortly.”

Chair of selectors George Bailey threw his support behind the embattled Finch, telling reporters: “Finchy’s record over his entire career is a pretty incredible one.

“He‘s the leader of the team and I think you’d be a very brave person to write him off.

“Very excited for him to lead his team in a home World Cup which is pretty special.”

After winning the toss and electing to bowl first at Riverway Stadium, Zimbabwe’s seamers claimed three crucial wickets during the Powerplay to rattle the hosts.

Steve Smith was left red-faced after leaving a Victor Nyauchi delivery that smacked into his front pad – the former Australian captain sheepishly walked back to the sheds after Hawkeye replays showed the Kookaburra would have crashed into the middle stump.

And Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey didn’t last much longer, wildly swinging at a Brad Evans delivery that flicked the outside edge.

The Aussies were suddenly 3/31 in the ninth over, but the carnage was far from over, with all-rounder Marcus Stoinis feathering a catch to Zimbabwe skipper Regis Chakabva in the 15th over.

And young prodigy Cameron Green followed soon after, chipping a delivery from Zimbabwe veteran Sean Williams directly to the cover fielder to leave Australia reeling at 5/72.

But despite the early collapse, veteran opener David Warner proved his class by bringing up a 26th ODI half-century in the 15th over, reaching the milestone in 47 deliveries.